When Your Good Boss Reports to a Bad Boss
This article presents a common dilemma:
"Maybe the senior boss diminishes the junior boss's authority by taking over her direct reports, perhaps in subtle ways. And then whom do those employees answer to?"
You might have a good boss who reports to a bad boss—it happens a lot in hierarchies. So what do you do if your boss's boss tries to give you orders that conflict with your direct boss's instructions? Put it in writing.
Write a memo addressed to both your boss and your boss's boss. Explain that, because you have been given conflicting instructions, you cannot proceed until they agree on what they want you to do. List the company goals you're working to accomplish and explain how this delay is working against those goals and hurting the organization.
Now suppose your boss's boss then says to you, "I read your memo; I'm the senior manager so you must follow my instructions." What do you do now? Write another memo addressed to both your boss and your boss's boss. Tell them that you asked for their agreement in your first message and you still don't have it—you still have only one manager's instructions. End this memo by asking whether they think it would be helpful if you escalated this issue for resolution to the executive to whom they both report--they'll probably want to avoid that.
Continue to write everything that happens, including the final resolution. In the last memo, say something like, "I understand that you both agree you want me to _____, and I am proceeding with this understanding." Keep a paper copy of all your memos in a safe place away from your work location.
Do not let it become your problem when your bosses disagree with each other. The simple act of writing what you've been told to do can help you avoid negative stress. Don't be afraid to state facts in writing—facts are indisputable.
"Maybe the senior boss diminishes the junior boss's authority by taking over her direct reports, perhaps in subtle ways. And then whom do those employees answer to?"
You might have a good boss who reports to a bad boss—it happens a lot in hierarchies. So what do you do if your boss's boss tries to give you orders that conflict with your direct boss's instructions? Put it in writing.
Write a memo addressed to both your boss and your boss's boss. Explain that, because you have been given conflicting instructions, you cannot proceed until they agree on what they want you to do. List the company goals you're working to accomplish and explain how this delay is working against those goals and hurting the organization.
Now suppose your boss's boss then says to you, "I read your memo; I'm the senior manager so you must follow my instructions." What do you do now? Write another memo addressed to both your boss and your boss's boss. Tell them that you asked for their agreement in your first message and you still don't have it—you still have only one manager's instructions. End this memo by asking whether they think it would be helpful if you escalated this issue for resolution to the executive to whom they both report--they'll probably want to avoid that.
Continue to write everything that happens, including the final resolution. In the last memo, say something like, "I understand that you both agree you want me to _____, and I am proceeding with this understanding." Keep a paper copy of all your memos in a safe place away from your work location.
Do not let it become your problem when your bosses disagree with each other. The simple act of writing what you've been told to do can help you avoid negative stress. Don't be afraid to state facts in writing—facts are indisputable.
